KNOWLEDGE, DIFFICULTIES AND THE RELATED FACTORS OF NURSES REGARDING PALLIATIVE CARE IN A MEDIUM-SIZED HOSPITAL WHERE CERTIFIED CANCER NURSING SPECIALIST TAKE CHARGE OF EDUCATION AND CONSULTATION
2022 Volume 9 Pages 35-42
Details
2022 Volume 9 Pages 35-42
Objective: The purpose is to identify nurses’ knowledge and difficulty in palliative care for terminally ill cancer patients of a general medium-sized F hospital its related factors.
Methods: We conducted an anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey. The subject were nurses in 4 levels (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert) of postgraduate cancer nursing education course.
Results: Questionnaires were distributed to 47 respondents, and valid responses were received from 39 respondents (83%) Nurses’ difficulty regarding palliative care tended to be higher of “symptom relief”, related factors of incorrect knowledge of “philosophy of palliative care” and “pain and opioids”. Nurses’ difficulty regarding palliative care was lower for “support from specialists”. The less years of experience and the lack of knowledge of palliative care, the more difficult it was to communicate with patients and their families.
Conclusion: General nurses can get knowledge and nursing skills from certified cancer nursing specialists. Nursing consultations show better results in medium-sized F hospital. Certified cancer nursing specialists could provide correct knowledge and high-quality practice for general nurses. Due to the high difficulty in “symptom relief” regarding palliative care, we suggest an early postgraduate lecture in cancer nursing education.
